CONTENTS

• EXPLANATION
• THERAPEUTIC OPTIONS
• FURTHER ASSESSMENT
• DOCUMENTATION
• TRADITIONAL OSTEOPATHIC PERSPECTIVES ON UREMIA

    Urea is a substance produced by the liver and transported to the kidneys to be excreted from the body in the urine.  From a medical perspective, urea is simply a poison containing nitrogen which must be eliminated from the body.  Edgar Cayce recognized that urea in excess is toxic to the body but asserted that a certain amount of urea was necessary in the blood to assist with various functions such as coagulation and wound healing.  The readings contain numerous examples of both kinds of urea imbalance, low and high.

    As an example of low urea, here are a couple of selections which link low urea with poor coagulation:

    First, as to the BLOOD SUPPLY, we find this has become impoverished by the lack of those necessary forces being assimilated by disturbances in the body as to produce a perfect coordination or balance in the red blood, the white blood, and the urea or lymph that makes for proper coagulation.   (532-1)

    As to the elements of the blood itself, these we find in their divisions - if they are separated - show the lack of that urea that makes for the creating of coagulation where used tissue has been eliminated for or from the system.   (434-1)

    In general, the symptoms associated with low urea closely parallel poor coagulation as described in Scale 11.  The treatment recommendations were also similar.

    In several readings, Edgar Cayce also linked urea levels with glucose levels.  Glucose is a simple sugar (actually the primary sugar) in the blood supply.  The readings emphasize the importance of maintaining a balance between urea and glucose:

    IN THE BLOOD SUPPLY, this we find shows an uneven balance.  Not that the pressure is so abnormal, though THIS we find somewhat below normal.  The divisions in the constituents or elements of the blood supply show a distress in the system's attempting to adjust self to those disorders or pressures as exist in system, that prevent the PROPER circulation.  Hence the urea, the glucose, are unbalanced, making for some change in the CELL count in the blood supply also.   (4661-1)

    Then, in the lower PORTION of the hepatic [liver and kidney] circulation, and especially as related to the capsule above the kidney [adrenal gland] - which keeps the equilibrium in the system, adding to or taking from that as is created in the blood supply through the glucose and urea - that is so necessary in the proper coagulations - these becoming unbalanced at times, the glucose being short, the urea being of an abundant quantity, produces too much of the FLUIDS in the system and, as it were, the FEELING as of rocking the boat.   (378-1)

    Interestingly, medical science does not recognize the value of urea in the blood nor a relationship with glucose.  The Cayce physical readings are full of such fascinating ideas about how the body works.  Perhaps future medical research will address these issues.

    One area that medical science has researched extensively is the effects of high urea in the blood.
The Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) test is a standard medical assessment for abnormal urea levels.
According to the medical literature, a normal BUN score ranges from 8 - 20.  In the last reading that Edgar Cayce gave (which was for himself on September 17, 1944), he was asked to assess his own urea level:

    The urea of the blood itself is not below the normal for this body, measuring in the present a count of 13 to 15...
(Q)  Should Dr. Slate's instructions be followed, for giving glucose followed by S.U.P. 36?
(A)  This, as we find, would not be necessary - unless there is a deficiency in the urea in the blood supply.  (294-212)

    When urea levels become excessive, the body suffer from a condition called uremia.  Seventy-one Cayce readings are indexed as uremia or uremia tendencies.  Some of these cases were relatively
mild (perhaps subclinical).  Other cases were more severe and even life-threatening.  Here are a couple of examples of uremia in which significant discomfort is apparent:

    The BLOOD SUPPLY, from the organic reactions, would appear to be very good; yet it will be seen that there are times when the activities from the kidneys are indicated in the blood stream - or a uremia that is produced by pressures in the lumbar and sacral area, and also to the 11th and 12th dorsal center, but lumbar and sacral areas specifically.  These pressures are of such a nature that with the circulation to the extremities there is produced a poor return or venous circulation to the body from the lower extremities.  Hence an irritation is produced, a swelling, a very UNPLEASANT reaction and an easy irritation to the burses of the feet; these are as drosses, or a poor circulation.   (793-1)

    The BLOOD SUPPLY indicates a disturbance in the circulatory system, and poisons - toxic forces; both from a poor circulation in the alimentary canal and toxic forces of a more severe nature that arise from poor eliminations and a disturbed activating force in the kidneys.  Hence a uremia of a nature that makes areas of irritation in the superficial or capillary circulation, even to the exterior portions of the body.  The attempt of the circulation in this portion to remove poisons; yet making for the tired, unsatisfactory feelings, headaches, nausea somewhat, at times bearing down pains through the pelvis, the lymphs and feet at times giving trouble, cold in the extremities at times while at others
there is an undue circulation - and the taste in the mouth at times is unsatisfactory, dull headaches resulting; tiredness in arms and lower limbs, pains especially through the right side of the torso or body.   (629-2)

DIET

    The Basic Cayce Diet (Appendix A) is recommended for persons with high urea.  This diet consists primarily of fruits and vegetables.
 

MEDICINE

    Atomidine was recommended in five readings indexed as uremia.

    Herbal medicines were also sometimes recommended in cases involving uremia.  Here is the frequency for some of the most common ingredients:
 

    At least three products based on the Cayce readings contain some of the herbs listed above.
 

    Formula 3810 contains:
 

    Formula 545 contains:
 

    Formula 4288 contains:
 

HYDROTHERAPY AND PACKS

    Hydrotherapy includes drinking 6 - 8 glass of fresh water per day with colonic irrigation (preferred) or enema and fume baths to assist with systemic toxicity associated with high urea.

    Castor oil packs, Epsom salts packs (over the back region corresponding to kidneys), and Glyco-thymoline packs were also recommended to assist with internal cleansing and for symptomatic relief in cases of uremia.
 

MANUAL THERAPY

    Spinal manipulation to improve nerve impulse to the kidneys and hepatic system is recommended.  The traditional osteopathic literature cited below provides some specific suggestions for manual therapy in cases of uremia.
 

ELECTROTHERAPY

    Several readings involving uremia recommend electrotherapy, such as the:

• wet cell battery,
• radial appliance,
• violet ray appliance.

    Options for further assessment include:

• Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) test

[NOTE: The following discussion of uremia comes from Osteopathy Complete published in 1898 by Elmer D. Barber, D.O.]

UREMIA
(Toxic condition of the blood from accumulation of urea.  Due to retention of poisonous materials
which should be eliminated by the kidneys.)

SYMPTOMS
    Headache; nausea; vertigo; vomiting; dilatation of the pupils; delirium; convulsions; and coma.

TREATMENT
    1.  Place the patient upon the side; beginning at the eighth dorsal, move the muscles upward and
outward to the last lumbar vertebra, being very particular over the lesser splanchnic nerves to
manipulate deeply, as it is here we are very apt to discover conditions which are the real cause of the failure of the kidneys to properly perform their duties.
    2.  Place the patient on the back; and knead the kidneys careful] and thoroughly; also give
vibrations.
    It is often advisable in this disease, in addition to the above treatment, to give a thorough
Treatment to Equalize the Circulation.
    Treatment will occupy about twenty or twenty-five minutes, and should be given each day.

UREMIA

    DEFINITION: An acute or chronic condition due to acute or chronic kidney disease, and
resulting from toxemia caused by the retention in the blood of renal poisons.
    Uremia is symptomatic, therefore no separate lesions are expected for it.  They are those causing
the primary disease from which the patient is suffering, most frequently Bright's disease, but quite
often also such diseases as gout, scarlet fever, typhoid fever, cholera, etc.; conditions in which the
blood and kidneys are affected.
    The PROGNOSIS, while guarded, is fair.  In the acute form rapid work must be done to obviate
the danger of a fatal termination.  The treatment quickly relieves, however, and usually the kidneys
can soon be gotten to acting freely.
    In the chronic case one must be continually upon his guard against a bad turn.  The chances in
these cases are better than in the acute, to overcome the condition.
    The prognosis must always depend upon that for the primary disease.
    The TREATMENT, especially in the acute case must be promptly efficient.  The first object is to
arouse the kidneys to activity, and to excrete from the system the poison that is causing the trouble.
    Thorough stimulation at the renal region of the spine fortunately soon accomplishes this object.
Cases that have not urinated in many hours will often respond promptly to this treatment.  Reference
to cases reported above will give an indication of what may be done.  The accomplishment of this
object is furthered by the local treatment to the kidneys, renal vessels, and associated nerve
plexuses, given upon the abdomen and above the umbilicus.  For this abdominal treatment, and a
special treatment for these cases, see the treatment of congestion of the kidneys.  Catheterization
should be employed when necessary.
    Sweating should be induced in order to help free the blood of the poisons.  Thorough spinal
treatment, and stimulation of heart and lungs will cause perspiration.  A hot pack may be used for
this purpose if necessary.  The stimulation of the heart overcomes the feeble and labored beating of
the heart, while the stimulation of the lungs, raising of the ribs, etc., relieves the dyspnea.
(Cheyne-Stokes breathing is often present).
    For the convulsions general relaxation of the spinal and cervical tissues should first be done,
followed by strong inhibition in the superior cervical region, affecting the vaso-motor center in the
medulla.  This treatment, together with the stimulation of the heart, corrects the circulation to the
brain.  The spasms are supposed to be due to localized or general anemia of the brain and cerebral
anemia.
    The eye and ear symptoms, such its dimness of vision, blindness, tinnitus aurium, deafness, etc.,
are of central origin, and are remedied by restoring the circulation to the brain.  They do not
commonly last more than a few days in the course of the disease.
    Fever may be present and should be treated as before directed.  Bowels and skin should be kept
active.  The bowels may be made to respond to treatment, or may be emptied by an enema.
Subnormal temperature may be normalized by the heart and lung treatment.  The coma is reached by the spinal and cervical, and heart and lung treatment as described.
    The vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and stomatitis, etc., should be treated as before directed for those conditions.  They depend upon the irritation of the mucosa.